USC wants NCAA penalties reduced

USC filed an appeal with the NCAA on Friday asking that some of the penalties imposed by the Committee on Infractions be reduced.

The school is asking that the two-year bowl ban on the football team be reduced to one year. It also asked that the scholarship penalties be cut in half, meaning the Trojans would lose five scholarships for the 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14 academic years.

The football program also was hit with four years’ probation and the forfeiture of the entire 2004 season because of improper benefits received by Reggie Bush.